Seam.



A. A. MERRITT.

SEAM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 19m.

1,21 9,023. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

UNITED STATES Pa'rENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR A. MERRITT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLCOX & GIBBS SEWING MACHINE 00., OF NEW YORK, Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. Mnuurr'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vorcester, Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Seams, whicli invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The improved seam constituting the present invention is particularly designed for and adapted to the joining together of superimposed and abutting edges of fabrics, particularly cut-knit goods, and loosely woven goods, such for example, as used in making muslin underwear, ladies shirtwaists, etc; but the seam may also be employed to advantage with other kinds of fabrics and for ornamental and other purposes.

' The invention will be most readily understood by reference to the illustration thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the seam made with six threads, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1.

The seam is illustrated as joining two abutting ends or edges of fabric 26 and 27. Surface threads 28 and 29 loop back and forth in the opposite faces of the seam across the line of abutment of the edges of the fabric. Loops in two locking threads 30 and 31 extend through fabric 26 and loops in two locking threads 32 and extend through fabric 27. As clearly shown, the thread of each loop in thread 28 passes through two ofthe loops j in-thrcad 30 and through two of the loops is in thread 31, and the thread of each loop and 7: passes through two loops The same is true of loops m in thread 28 with relation to loops 1). in thread 33 and loops 0 in thread 32; of loops 7; in thread 29 with relation to loops 1 in thread 33 and Win thread 32; and of loops .9 in thread 29 with relation to loops If in thread 1-30 and loops m in thread 31.

The advantages of the seam as above dosrg'ibed are apparent, but by way of example the following are mentioned.

The seam is neat, con'ipact and attractive in design, and may, if desired, be used solely for decorative purposes. it is capable of being made by a single operation of a suitable machine. lt rovides a decorative and secure finish, bindlng and covering over the abutted or lapped edges of fabric, and thus prevents raveling of cut or raw edges, and the cut thread-ends from sticking up andmarring the seam. As shown the width of the seam may be such as to take a wide hold, particularly upon loosely woven fabrics, by the presence of the intermediate locking threads (preferably in pairs) such as 31, 32, so that each thread added may have an anchorage in its respective fabric edge to provide holding power as may be desired. The seam described may be used for ornamental purposes along the edge or edges of one fabric or a plurality of fabrics. lVhen so used, each locking thread becomes an etlfec tive holder and covering element for the edge or edges and prevents raveling of a knitted fabric, or the pulling away of a woven fabric by the slipping of its filling strands off out ends of its warping strands,

or vice versa. As will also be apparent, this seam may be applied to superimposed and overlapped pieces or ends of fabrics.

A further important advantage of this seam is that it effects a union of two abutting edges of fabric while leaving a perfectly flat surface at the seam. The usual objectionable seam ridge is obviated and the thickness through the seam may be practi- (rally the same as that of the fabric itself. In this connection it is to be understood that with the proper tension of the threads, the latter sink into the soft or yielding surface of the fabric, a characteristic not shown in the drawing and which it would be ditlicult, if not impossible, to adequatelyi illustrate therein. i

It may be found desirable to sometimes formthe threads in the interlocking relationshipdescribed, in the absence of fabric,

as for example in the chaining off opera-,

tion of a machine capable of forming theseam. The chain or seam thus formed 1ndcpendent of fabric may'have a variety of uses.

satisfactory result, both in'joining two or more edges of fabric and for ornamental It is apparent that a better finish and more" "e intention that the seam, in any of ins, shall he made by a single operaitahle sewing machine, in which threads may he introduced by needles 1.. d the surface threads by loopers. Part it is to he understood that no restriction or limitation is imposed requiring these threads to he incorporated in the seam by the use of needles or, loopers, or as to the character of the mechanism by which the scan; 'o he formed.

What IS claimed is:

l. in a t rozul-structure, the combination of a suria o thread looped hackand forth in the structure, a second surface hack and forth in the other triu-ture, a locking thread and forth in interlocking enwith the loops in both surface edge of the structure, and thread looped hack and oching engagement with loops -e threads along, the other edge more, each of said four threads 5 secure the loops of the threads ich it interlocks, and one or more oual locking threads located between two aforesaid locking threads and disilarly to the latter with relation to surface threads.

a threae-striu'ture, the combination "ace thread looped back and forth. in the structure, a second surface mpcd hack and forth in the other re structure, a locking thread looped er in interlocking engagement both surface threads along one ed ie structure, and a second lockin thread looped hack and forth in interwhl engagement with loops in both surls along the other edge of the hread ot' each loop in both passing through two loops \read and the thread of each s: threads passing through surface thread, each of said rving by such interlocking of the loops of the threads with s threads located between the locking threads and disposed 1e iatter with relation to the against the surface ofthe fabric in one face of the seam, a second surface thread looped belt and forth against the surface of the rabric in the opposite face of the seam. a. locking thread looped hack and rth through the fabric in interlocking ment with the loops in both surface threads along one edge of the seam, and a. second locking thread looped hack and forth in interlocking engagement with loops in both surface threads along the other edge of the seam, each of said four threads servi g to secure the loops of the threads with which it interlocss, and one or more additional ioelring, threads located between the two a said locking threads and disposed sin: to the latter with relation to the two 51 threads.

4. In a seam the combination a a I of a surface thread looped been and forth against the surface of the fabric in one 5 of the seam, a. second surface t read looped hack and forth against the surface of the fabric in the opposite face oi the eam, locking thread looped hack and through the fabric in interlocking en ment with the loops in both sin-lace time along one edge of the seam, and a; "econd lOClUIIg thread looped back and. forth in H1 tel-locking engagement with loops in both e r the race loci:-

Witnesses: Y

F. A. rloiy'roir 1V. Kenn/in. 

